Vibrating incremental mold charger or feeder



Feb. 5, 1952 w. A. GRUENEBERG 2,584,444

VIBRATING INCREMENTAL MOLD CHARGER OR FEEDER Filed June 3, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 5, 1952 w. A. GRUENEBERG VIBRATING INCREMENTAL MOLD CHARGER OR FEEDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1948 INVENTOR.

WALTER A. GRUENEBERG BY 2 QTTORNEV Feb. 5, 1952 w. A. GRUENEBERG 2,584,444

VIBRATING INCREMENTAL MOLD CHARGER OR FEEDER '5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 5, 1948 INVENTOR. WALTER A. GRuaNEeERq ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1952 w. GRUENEBERG VIBRATING INCREMENTAL MOLD CHARGER OR FEEDER '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 3, 1948 INVENTOR. WALTER A. GRUENEBERq 434 Patented Feb. 5, 1952 VIBRATING INCREMENTAL MOLD CHARGER OR FEEDER Walter A. G'rucneberg; Saginaw, Mich, assignor to Jackson & Church Company; .Saginaw; Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application. June, 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,903"

ticularlybut not exclusively adapted for feeding an aggregate of;concrete, or sand and-lime, or the-like, into amold box.

In .the relatively high speed: mass production ofstructural building blocks or-bricks from a mix of concrete, or sand. and lime, orsimilar aggregates, it' is common to pour the mix by gravity froma feed hopper into an open top cored mold box to shape the brick or block.- I

An example of one. form of block molding machine for which the mold charger, or feeding means'of the present inventionis particularly adapted is described in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 688,l'18,,filed;July 29, 1946: This machine comprises an intermittently rotatable table adapted for progressively indexing aplurality of circumferentially spaced open top mold boxesthrough a progressive series of work stations. The table pauses after each incremental indexingmovement with one of each of the mold boxes indexed at one of each ofthework stations, whereat the work operationcharacteristic of the station is performed. Thus, after the ma; chine has been in operation for a period sufficient to carry one mold boxthrough all of the progressive. work operations, one of'the empty mold boxes carried by the table will be filled with mix at a feeding station anda completely mold ed'block will be discharged from the machine at the final work station during each incremental indexing cycle; v

The mix, although moist is preferably fed, to

the mold box in acomparatively dry state and is'frequentl'y known asa dry. mix. to distinguish from the relatively fluid sludge state commonly employed in the laying of concrete in ordinary on-the-job construction work. In the"dry state, the mix pours slowly and tends to pile up on the mold cores and to bridge small cavities within the mold, leaving air pockets and otherwise rendering difiicultthe complete filling of the mold adjacent thejsides and ends thereof; In order to facilitate the flow of, the dry mix from the feed" hopper andinto all parts of the mold, it is common to'vibrate the hopper andmold during the feeding operation. 7

Prior to the, present invention, the duration of the feeding operation, was determined by me- 2 chanical feed control means, suchas a sliding gate-or cut-off knife adapted to cover the opentop of the mold box and to cut off the supply of mix from the feed hopper. A characteristic dif ficulty with such mechanical'feed control means is the time required-for its complete opening and closing. For example, with a horizontally slidable gate adapted'to move between acover-position and an open position across the open top of the mold box, the-open top of the mold box is exposed toreceive the incoming mix through an opening which gradually increases from one side thereof as the gate moves from thewclosed to the open position. Since the mix under vibration will flow readily vertically, but slowly laterally, the complete filling of the mold box is not readily accomplished until the sliding gate completely exposes the open top of the moldto the incoming-mix. The gate must remain in the open positionuntil the portion of the moldbox is filled which is directly below the top opening thereof and which is the last to be exposed to the incoming mix. Thereafter, the gatebegins to move to the closed or cut-off position.

In the .modern high speed massproduction of molded building bricks or blocks, it is frequently found that with certain desired types of molds, the clearancebetweenthe sides thereof and the mold cores is not sufilcient to permit complete filling of the mold during the time interval available to obtain maximum production from the machine. Furthermore, the frequent opening and closing of the mechanical feed control means against the heavy mass of'mix at-the rate of twelve to fifteen times perminute results in rapid wear of'the-moving parts and costly upkeep.

Accordingly, an object-of the present invention is toprovide'an improved, simplified and efiicient feed control means for a moldable mix, which rapidly supplies the mix directly to the open top-of a mold box asdesired withoutthe requirement of a sliding gate or comparablemechanical cut-off 'mechanism, thereby minimizing-mainten' anceand replacement expenses.-

Another object of the present invention isto provide a feed control means comprising aselectively vibrating grating, which permits the passage ofjthe mix through the grating by gravity flow while thelatter is vibrating, andwhich retains the mix by frictionabove the grating while the latter is quiescent, and which permits a ready control over the duration and rate of flow of the mix merely by controlling the duration of the vibration period and the rate and amplitude of vibration.

Another object is to: provide a feed control means of the character described which is adapted to serve as an overhead feeder for high speed brick and block molding machines, whereby empty mold boxes are progressively indexed at a feeding station below the feed control means and filled with mix in an appreciably-less time than is required for other operations in the manufacture of the brick or block, thereby permitting the production speed of the machine to be varied as desired within its operative limits without altering the time allotted to the feeding operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved high speed feed control means adapted to feed a moldable mix to an open top mold box and to assure a complete filling of the mold box and a rapid thorough dis tribution of the mix to all parts ofthe mold box as required, around the cores and to the edges thereof, thereby preventing a pile-up of mix over the cores, and permitting an increased production in the manufacture of a well-formed molded unit.

Other objects'of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in .the several views.

The above and other objects are accomplished in a preferred embodiment of the present invention which comprises a vibrating distributor having a grating disposed over the open top of the mold box to be filled. The openings of the grat' ing are adapted in size to permit a ready gravity flow of mix therethrough upon vibration ofthe grating. Upon cessation of the vibration, friction between the mix and the grating effectively stops the gravity flow. The openings of the grating are preferably disposed over the mold box so as to feed the mix where desired in accordance with the disposition of the mold cavities to be filled.

Vibration of the distributor is preferably effected by electromagnetic .means which .afiord a 'ready control over the duration of the vibration period and also over the rateand amplitude of vibration. These in turn determine the duration of the feeding period and the rate of flow of the mix through the distributor grating. However, the many advantages of the present invention are not dependent upon electromagnetic vibration means. Other suitable vibrators may be employed where desired.

The mix is fed to the distributor by gravity flow from a vibrating mix receiving tray in communication with a mix supply hopper. The bottom of V the mix receiving tray comprises an inclined chute, having an open discharge-edge, over the distributor, and declines from a position below the discharge opening of the supply hopper to said discharge edge. Likewise, the mix receiving tray is operatively coupled with. the vibrator mechanism of the distributor for vibration therewith and feeds the mix from the supply hopper along the declined tray bottom to the discharge edge of the latter when the vibrator mechanism is operating. The angle of decline of the tray bottom is insufficient to permit gravity flow of the mix when the vibrator is quiescent.

Where desired, a plurality of pyramidal guides are provided by the distributor grating between the openings thereof. The apices of the pyramidal guides are below the discharge edge of the mix receiving tray bottom and their sides lead to the edges of the grate openings so as to guide the mix thereto. By suitably locating the apices of the pyramidal guides and determining the angles of inclination of their sides, the distribution of the mix to the various grate openings may be proportioned in accordance with the requirements of the, mold box therebelow, Similarly, pyramidal guides or deflectors are provided below the distributor grating and directly over the cores of the mold box to deflect the flow of mix where desired around the cores. Thus a piling up of mix on the cores is avoided and the mix is guided to every part of the mold where desired.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an incremental vibrating feeding mechanism embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the broken line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sec-" tion taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing a plan viewof the distributor.

' Fig. 4 is essentially a front elevation of the distributor shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section through the distributor, taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. r

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 66 of Fig. 2, showing a plan view of the pyramidal deflectors above the mold box. I

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken in the direc tion of the arrows along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details.

of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is. capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

' Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

A particular embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of example in the drawings wherein a structural steel framework, indicated generally by the numeral Ill, Figs. 1 and 2, sup-v ports the vertical feed hopper 12 having the lower open discharge end I 4 adapted to deliver a plastic moldable mix to the three-sided mix receiving vibrating tray, indicated generally by the numeral IS. The latter is supported independently of the hopper l2 by means discussed below, so as to facilitate vibration of the tray IS without necessitating vibration of the entire weight of the hopper l2 and mix therein.

In the presentginstance, the backside l8 and two lateral sides 2!] of the tray l8 extendupward around the lower hopper opening I l. The bottom 2| of the tray t6 declines from the back edge I8 toward the open side 22 of thetray IE5 at the forward portion thereof, 1. e.,- at the rightin Fig. 1. An extension base plate 24 inthe plane of the tray bottom 2| provides a forward continuation of the latter and terminates at the forward discharge edge 26, Figs; 1, 2 and 3. Vertical spring I coiled around the depending leg of an eye bolt I02 which passes through the said horizontal face of the bracket 98. The coil spring I00 is under compression between the horizontal face of the angle bracket 98 and the spring retaining flange I04 at the lower extremity of the eye bolt I02. The lower end of a tie rod I06 is flexibly hooked through the eye of the bolt I02. Similarly, the upper end of the tie rod I is flexibly hooked within the eye of an upper eye bolt I08 having its leg extended through a cylindrical rocker H0 and secured in place by a nut H2. The rocker H0 is pivotally mounted within a saddle II4 for pivotal movement as required by the vibrator mechanism. Paired safety clamping brackets H6 and clamping bolts IIB secure the hook ends of each of the tie rods I05 against accidental springing in the manner of the clamping assemblies 86-88.

The volume of flow of the mix from the vibrator tray I6 during vibration is selectively determined by the vertically sliding gate I supported at the forward side of the hopper I2 and adapted for adjustably opening or closing across the opening of the open side 22 of the tray I6.

The gate I20 is slidably secured between the external forward wall of the hopper I2 and the paired vertical lateral guide members I22, which are spaced from the forward side of the hopper I2 by the lateral brackets I24, Figs. 1 and 2, so as to provide a guide way for the gate I20. One of each of the guides I22 is secured to one of each of the brackets I24. The latter are secured to opposite sides of the hopper I2.

The upper portion of the gate I20 provides the boss I26 secured to the lower, end of the vertical screw-threaded gate adjusting shaft I28. The latter extends through an opening provided therefor within the boss I30 secured to the forward side of the hopper I2 and is adiustably secured to the boss I 30 by the paired adjusting nuts I32 above and below the boss I30.

At the rear of the hopper I2 is a vertically slidable clean-out door I34 whichis normally held by the pressure of mix within the hopper I2 against the paired lateral, retaining flanges I36 provided by the rear wall of the hopper I2. A horizontal handle bar I31 at the upper portion of the clean-out door I34 permits raising of the latter so as to open the hopper to the cleanout'chute I38. The lateral edges I40 of the chute I38 lie adjacent and externally to the lateral edges of the hopper I2, permitting the chute I38 to be readily detachably secured to the hopper I2 by means of the lateral hooks I42 secured to the upper forward portion of the edges I40 and adapted for hooking over the laterally projecting studs I44 secured to the sides of the hopper I2.

By the above construction, upon actuation of the electromagnetic vibrator, the vibrator arms 90, tray I6, and the extensions thereof comprising the plates 24 and 28, together with the distributor assembly 34, will vibrate as a unit. By thus vibrating, mix supplied to the tray I6 from the hopper I2 will be caused to flow along the decline of the tray bottom 2I and extension plate 24 to the discharge edge 26, and from thence through the grate openings 48 and 50. By suitably selecting the width of the openings 48 and 50, the mix will pile up on the baffle rods 58 upon cessation of the vibration, thereby effecting a sharp cut-oil for the flow of mix through the distributor grating.

It has been found that grate slots 48' of approximately one and five-sixteenths inches in width and bisected by an approximately threesixteenths inch diameter baflle rod 58 is satisfactory for most dry mixes used in the manufacture of conventional bricks or blocks. With such dimensions, a ready flow of the mix through the distributor grating is achieved while the latter is vibrating, and an efiicient complete shut-off of the flow of mix is effected immediately upon cessation of the vibration. These dimensions, however, may be varied to meet particular requirements.

The mix which flows through the distributor grating is received by the open upper end of the lower chute I46, Fig. 1, having the flared upper sides I48 around the lower portion of the distributor 34, Fig. 2. The chute I46 is suitably supported from the frame I0, as for example by angle brackets I50 and I52 welded to the side walls of the chute I46 and bolted together by the bolts I54. As noted in Fig. 1, the horizontal face of each angle bracket I50 is secured to the transverse supporting member I56 by the bolts I58. The transverse supporting member I56 in turn is secured to the frame I0 by the bolts I59.

The open lower end I60 of the chute I46 is supported directly over the open end of the mold box 39, Fig. 1, and provides the plurality of pyramidal deflectors I62, which are selectively disposed over the mold box opening for guiding the mix to the mold box 39 as desired and to prevent a piling up of the mix on the cores within the mold box 39. In the present instance, three complete pyramidal deflectors I62 are each mounted on one of each of the three transverse cross braces I64, which extend centrally through the deflectors I62 and are welded at their opposite ends to the sides of the chute I46. The two lateral deflectors I62 are welded to the lateral sides of the chute I46 and, as shown, are each equivalent to one-half of one of the three central deflectors I62.

In operation of the feeding unit described, a suitable mix within the hopper I2 is fed by gravity to the vibrator tray I6. Upon each intermittent vibration period of the vibrator mechanism, the mix flows through the tray opening 22, which is selectively regulated by the adjustable gate I20 so as to permit a desired flow of mix to the distributor 34 during the vibration period.

Also during each vibration period, the mix caused to flow off the discharge edge 26 strikes the guide plates 52, 54 and is thereby guided to the grate slots 48. By selectively adjusting the horizontal width of the slot 50 and by properly determining the angles of the plates 52, 54, the proportion of the mix which is fed to any portion of the grating may be predetermined so as to properly distribute the flow of the mix into the vertical chute I46 as required for uniformly filling the mold box 39 in a minimum time.

Thus the mix may be fed at a maximum rate to portions of the mold 39 having larger cavities to be filled. Similarly, the deflectors I62 direct the flowing mix where desired into the mold 39 and provide a final guide means to assure a proper distribution of the mix to the various parts of the mold 39. Overfilling of some portions of the mold 39 and underfilling other portions thereof, and a piling-up of the mix on the cores within the mold box are thus avoided. Likewise, the efiicient distribution of the mix simultaneously to all parts of the mold box, and at a rate of flow which varies proportionately over the surface of the mold box 39 in accordance with the variation in the volume of the mold cavity below mold-Fin a minimum time interval. ipessibl'e by means of the presentinvention torethe surface, assures complete charging of the It has been ducejtheicharging time for a;, 12-inch mo1d to 'alboutone and one-quarter seconds. Acharging time of two and one-half to three secondslhas been achieved for the larger blocks of the size of the conventional so-called sand lime blocks tapn ioximately 8"x12x16 ti/here'at the. mold boxesare filled with mix in their turn. Thereafter the filled mold boxes are carried through a progressive series of work stations by intermittent indexing movements for completion of the molding process, each mold box being progressively indexed in its turn at each work station. In such machines, the plurality of mold boxes move as a unit pausing between each indexing movement for the time interval required by the work operation, and with a mold box indexed at each work station. With one such machine, a maximum rate of production for blocks of the size of the aforesaid cinder blocks is approximately twelve per minute, or one completed block from the final operation every five seconds, permitting a maximum time of approximately five seconds per block at any one work station, as for example the mold filling station. It has been found that about twenty five per cent of the maximum allotted time for each work station is required for indexing and for operation of the control mechanisms, leaving approximately three and one-quarter seconds work time for each mold box at each indexed position. As each mold is indexed to the filling station, supply of electrical current to the electric vibrator is controlled by any conventional type of desired electrical control circuit. Such a circuit may, if desired, include a conventional time delay relay means to predetermine the duration of the vibration period, and accordingly the feed period. Since only two and one-half to three seconds are required to fill the mold, de ending upon the type of mix being used, the vibration period for any specific mix may remain constant regardless of the rate at which blocks are produced. Thus for any one type of mix the production rate of the machine may be varied at will without requiring an alteration of the feeding period.

By the foregoing, I have disclosed an improved efiicient, and simplified mold feeding or charging apparatus adapted for operation with high speed molding machinery. The feeding period is readily subject to automatic control and may be efficiently started and stopped by controlling the vibration of an electromagnetic vibrator mechanism, thereby eliminating a moving gate and its consequent time delay in opening and closing and the expensive maintenance of wearing parts, and also readily permitting a distribution of the molding mix to all parts of the mold box simultaneously throughout the feeding period.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus for charging an open mold with a moldable mix, the combination of a vibrating tray adapted to receive said mix and to discharge the mix off one edge thereof upon vibration thereof, means for intermittently vibrating said tray and distributor means disposed below the discharge edge of said tray for receiving the mix therefrom and for distributing the mix as and where required tothe open mold and comprising a vibrating grating adapted for vibration with said tray and having openings of a size sufficient to permit passage of said mix only during the vibration of said grating and pyramidal defiector means positioned above said grating and adapted to directsaid mix into the openings in said grating, the discharge edge of said tray beiiig'disposed immediately above the apices of said pyramidal deflector means.

2. The-"combination as claimed in claim 1 and being further characterized in that said vibrating tray is three-sided and open at its discharge edge, and the bottom of the tray is inclined downward 1 toward the discharge edge.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 and being further characterized in that a feed hopper adapted for discharging into said tray is provided, and an adjustable gate means is provided for selectively controlling the flow of mix to the discharge edge of said tray.

4. In a vibrating mold charger adapted for charging an open top mold from above with a moldable mix, the combination of a vibrating three-sided mix receiving tray having an open discharge edge and having a bottom inclined toward said discharg edge, a feed hopper for feeding said mix to said tray, means to effect an intermittent how of mix along the inclined bottom of said tray to the discharge edge thereof and comprising selectively controlled vibrator means operatively connected with said tray for intermittent vibration thereof, and distributor means disposed below the discharge edge of said tray for receiving the mix therefrom and for distributing the mix as required to a mold disposed below said distributor and comprising a vibrating grating adapted for vibration with said tray, the openings of said gratings being adapted in size to permit passage of said mix only upon vibration of said grating and pyramidal deflector means positioned above said grating and adapted to direct said mix into the openings in said grating, the discharge edge of said tray being disposed immediately above the apices of said pyramidal deflector means.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 and being further characterized in that a second pyramidal deflector means is provided above said open mold for directingthe mix received from said grating into said open mold.

6. An apparatus for charging an open top mold box with a moldable mix and comprising distributor means for distributing a moldable mix in a mold box, said distributor means including a vibrating grating having openings adapted to permit passage of the moldable mix only upon vibration of said grating, controlled means for selectively vibrating said grating, selected grate openings for said distributor comprising longitudinal slots, and a longitudinal bafile bar carried by said distributor for vibrating therewith centrally disposed longitudinally within each of said longitudinal slots.

7. An apparatus for charging an open top mold box with a moldable mix and comprising distributin means for distributing a moldable mix in a mold box, said distributor means including a vibrating grating having openings adapted to permit passage of the moldabl mix only upon vibration of said grating, said vibrating grating including pyramidal deflector means mounted in the path of the moldable mix and between the openings thereof to meter and guide the mix into 11 said openings, and a second pyramidal deflector means positioned above said open mold box and below said grating for directing the mix received from said grating into said open mold box.

WALTER A. GRUENEBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 1 Number 12 Name Date Brough Jan. 5, 1904 -Ramsay July 18,1916 Long -1. July 2'7, 1926 White Sept. 10, 1929 Stockdale Dec. 8,1931 Barber Feb. 23, 1932 i Carton Apr. 25, 1933 Brown Feb. 12, 1935 Luhrmann Aug. 8, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Dec. 23, 1936 

